"I wonder how Curtis' hearing went," Raph said to Hector as they finished cleaning up after vaccinating Mrs. Rotondo's dog.

"I think it must have gone all right or we would have heard something," Hector replied.

"I'm surprised they haven't called us one way or the other."

"Yeah, it would be nice to know."

"I guess I could always call them," Raph said thoughtfully as he wiped down the table.

Hector dumped the paper towels he had been using in the trash bin and turned to look at his partner. He understood how important having this boy in their lives was becoming to Raph. He hoped his lover wasn't setting those hopes too high. He hated the thought that it might all go crashing to the ground when the powers that be found out that they were gay. There was still a lot of reluctance to let gays adopt or foster. And then there was Curtis himself. Neither of them knew what Curtis' attitude towards gays might be. Maybe it would be better to get this over with in a hurry.

"Raph, why don't you call and see what happened," Hector suggested.

"I will." Raph walked into his office with the intention of placing a call to the clinic. That was when the bullshit button went off in the waiting room. "Shit!" Raph reacted heading out to see who was there. No one was scheduled for at least fifteen minutes.

Hector followed behind Raph. As they arrived in the outer reception area they were both surprised to see Hunter and Curtis standing there.

"I love that thing!" Hunter laughed indicating the bullshit button.

"You never fail to use it when you come in," Raph chuckled. "Look who's here!" Raph added enthusiastically looking directly at Curtis.

When Curtis made no move to answer, Hunter said cheerfully, "Just us happy custodians of teenage boys."

"Does that mean the hearing went well?" Hector asked with a broad smile.

"It was awesome," Curtis said deciding finally to speak. "The judge said I can be in Hunter's custody and stay at the center and I won't go to jail and I can pay back the people I took money from by working here. And I really want to see Matty."

Hector and Raph had never heard Curtis say so many words all at once. Neither had Hunter.

"I thought Curtis deserved a reward, so I brought him over to see Matty," Hunter explained.

"And I could stay and help with the other animals … if you wanted me too," Curtis volunteered quickly.

"I think that would be an excellent idea," Raph stated. "If it's all right with you…?" he asked Hunter.

"Sounds like a plan. I need to get back to the clinic. How be I pick you up here at three, Curtis?"

Curtis' head bobbed enthusiastically in agreement. "Yes, sir."

Hunter chuckled. It wasn't usual to have his lost boys call him sir. He kind of got a kick out of it. "I'll be back at three. Maybe you guys can get to know each other a little better in the meantime," Hunter said with a wink for Raph. "You'll be spending a lot of time here to pay off your debt, Curtis."

"Yes, sir," Curtis agreed willingly. "Can I see Matty now?"

"Come with me, young man," Hector said. He guided Curtis back behind the reception desk and into the area where sick and recuperating animals were housed.

"He seems really enthusiastic about being here," Hunter said to Raph as soon as Hector and Curtis were out of earshot.

"Yeah, but Hector and I were just discussing what will happen when he finds out that we're gay."

"He knows I'm gay, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with that."

"Yeah, but that's not quite the same as living with us two gay guys," Raph replied uncertainly.

"If you want some advice, take it slowly. Let Curtis get used to you and Hector. He knows nothing about your interest in fostering or adopting him. Just let him get acclimatized here first before you press the matter."

"We will," Raph agreed. "Thanks for bringing him over."

"You're welcome. I hope that things will work out between you and Curtis. That kid could use a good home and some caring adults."

"That's exactly what we'd like to give him."

"Then it'll all work out for the best," Hunter said shaking Raph's hand before exiting the veterinary clinic. He really hoped it would work out the way Raph wanted. They were good people and so was Curtis.

 

*****
 

"So Curtis, how was your afternoon at the clinic?" Hunter asked the young man as Curtis met Hunter outside the vet clinic. They were about to drive back to the Jason Kemp Center.

"Fine," Curtis answered.

"Just fine?" Hunter inquired.

"It was good, real good. I like it there and Dr. Raph, he explained lots of stuff to me but..."

"But?"

"I miss school. I haven't been to school in months. I guess I missed a lot. Will I be left back?" Curtis asked almost heartbroken not to get promoted with his class.

Hunter thought a bit then whipped out his cell phone.

"Emm, you in the Pitts or up at the cottage. Great! I have a young man who needs a whole new wardrobe. Whoa! Calm down. He's only fourteen and it's for school, no clubbing clothes. Okay, meet you there in a few." Hunter snapped his phone closed then pulled out into traffic.

"Um, Mr. Hunter?" Curtis had no idea what was going to happen next.

"Don't sweat it. We're just going shopping for some new clothes."

"But, I don't have money."

"Not to worry. You're my responsibility; clothes are part of the deal. After we get you all accessorized, we'll go to Staples to pick up some school supplies. It's a little late now, but I'll call over to your school in the morning. Let's see if we can get an appointment with a guidance counselor. If we're lucky, we can get you back into class tomorrow."

"What about my job at the clinic?"

"We'll set up a schedule with Raph and Hector for after school and Saturdays. Here we are!" Hunter said enthusiastically as he pulled up in front of Torso. Emmett had long since left that establishment but Torso loved their former number one salesman. Emmett always brought in the customers and Torso was a JKDC supporter.

"Where are we?" Curtis looked out of the SUV to see the wild sign of Torso.

"Don't let the outside fool you. They do have normal clothes here. And some of Pittsburgh's favorite citizens shop here." Hunter and Curtis got out of the Cherokee to go into the shop.

"Hi! Hi! Hi!" Emmett announced loudly as he scurried down the street, trying not to slip on the ice. "Is this a new member of 'our family'?" Emmett asked brightly.

"Yes, Emmett, this is Curtis," Hunter introduced the two. "And Emm, turn down the flames a bit, would ya? Let's not scare the kid," Hunter said softly.

Emmett smiled then reined in his enthusiasm just a tad. "Well, young man, I hear you need some new threads to get into school. I think we can outfit you," Emmett said as he opened the door to the store and ushered them in. "Now, let me get a good look at you..."

For the next couple of hours, Emmett enjoyed spending the center's money. And Hunter had fun watching as the money went to a worthy cause.

 

*****
 

"Hello?"

"Justin, it's Lacy."

"Hiya, Lacy! How's it going?" Justin could hear the rattling of plates and the diner noise in the background.

"It's good. I'm on a break. I just wanted to tell you that Michael and I have been getting along pretty well. He likes the sketches I've brought him so far and I think we might introduce the new character soon. Maybe not this issue but the next one."

"Lacy, that's great! I am so happy for you." The background noise was growing louder.

"I'm sorry, Justin, the dinner crowd is coming in. I gotta go."

"Go Lacy and I'll visit you soon," Justin reassured her.

"Thank you, Justin." Justin heard the chef's bell dinging madly, signaling that an order was up. "I'm coming, I'm coming, keep your shirt on!" Justin heard Lacy shout, sounding a lot like her other mentor, one Debbie Novotny Horvath.

Justin hung up the phone laughing then went back to helping Brian with dinner.

"What's so funny?" Brian asked his spouse. They had spent most of the day loving. Justin took the welcome break from his canvases. Now they were making dinner.

"Lacy, she sounds a lot like Debbie."

"Now there's a scary thought. Are she and Mikey playing nice?"

"So far so good but you know how Michael can get."

"Yes, all too well. Maybe I should pay a visit to my friend," Brian snarked a little.

"Maybe Rage needs to check on Zephyr," Justin said as he shifted his eyes to Brian.

"You mean check up on Zephyr."

"That too. Brian, I may not want to be directly involved in Rage but I'm not abandoning him either. I love Rage and I love how he's helped our community. I don't want that to change now that I'm stepping back a little."

Brian crossed over to his lover who was busy chopping a tomato. Without interrupting Justin's rhythm, Brian wrapped his arms around his spouse.

"Do you want to have Bobby go over your contract? He'll make sure your interests are protected."

"I don't think that's necessary, do you?"

"Justin, I love Michael, I've loved him for most of my life, but sometimes I don't trust him."

"Brian..."

"Justin, humor me. I'm having Bobby check over your contract, and tomorrow Rage is having a chat with Zephyr."

"Just make sure Zephyr's mother is nowhere near. Rage has no powers against her," Justin said as he finished putting their salad together. Brian nodded.

 

*****
 

Hunter and the newly decked out Curtis sat in the main office of the local high school. Hunter looked around remembering when he had first become a student at the same school. It was long ago, but little had changed. The head secretary had even recognized him. He shook his head at her surprised look when he gave her his name, confirming that he really was the student that had had his share of troubles at the school.

As he sat waiting to see the principal, he remembered the incident in the pool when he had cut his head and started bleeding. The ensuing uproar about him being HIV positive had cost him Cally and any hope of a normal life in high school. After that everybody knew, and he was treated like a pariah. He hated those memories.

But at the same time he remembered how Ben and Michael had stood up for him. They had done their best to fight the school and the homophobic attitudes that pervaded the place. Too bad you couldn't change people's minds with the force of your own will, like Rage was able to do.

"Mr. Montgomery," the head secretary said with a little grin, "Principal Carlson will see you now."

Hunter stood and so did Curtis. Hunter gave Curtis' shoulder a squeeze before leading the scared boy into the principal's office. Hunter had met the new principal of the high school a couple of times when he had brought boys from the Center to enroll there.

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Samuels," the principal said.

"Please, it's Hunter and Curtis."

"It's always nice to meet with one of our distinguished alumni."

"In a manner of speaking," Hunter said modestly.

"Well, you've done very well at turning around the lives of the boys you've brought here. The students who come to us from the Jason Kemp Center are focused and work hard to graduate."

"I hope I've brought another such student," Hunter said looking at Curtis.

"I very much hope so too," Mr. Carlson said. "I've asked the head of our guidance department to sit in with us. She should be here momentarily."

"That's good," Hunter said as they all sat down. "Curtis has missed a couple of months of school."

"I see. That could be a problem," Mr. Carlson replied. He looked thoughtful.

Curtis cringed. He had been afraid of this. They were going to flunk him in all the subjects that he had missed from the first semester and then he would have to do them all over again, even though he was sure he could have passed the exams.

There was a gentle knock on the door. A lovely African American woman entered. "I'm Elaine Washington," she said extending her hand to Hunter and then to Curtis.

"Ms. Washington is the head of guidance. We received a faxed transcript from Curtis' former school. She's been looking over Curtis' grades and talking to her counterpart at the other school."

Curtis stared at the beautiful woman who sat down next to him. He felt scared and worried. He wondered what his other school had said about him. It could be good or it could be bad, especially if Ms. Washington had talked to his math teacher. Curtis hated that guy. He had made Curtis' life a misery all semester.

"I have Curtis' marks here from the part of the term that he completed," Ms. Washington stated. Curtis held his breath. "You were almost an A student," she said looking into Curtis' eyes. "I bet if you had attended more regularly, you could have been an all round A student."

"Yes, ma'am," Curtis replied. He remembered all the days he had missed when the Hardigans had wanted him home to work or to look after one of the younger kids who wasn't feeling well.

"Curtis really wants to be back in school," Hunter interjected. "It was his idea to come here as quickly as we could get an appointment."

"That's very commendable," Mr. Carlson responded.

Curtis smiled to himself. Maybe he had earned a few brownie points. He hoped so because he wanted to get back to school. He wanted to make something of himself.

"Curtis," Ms. Washington began. "I've looked over your records as much as I can, until the actual file is delivered here in a couple of days. You seem like a smart boy. Am I right?"

Curtis shrugged. "I guess," he mumbled. He was afraid of what she might be getting at.

"You missed quite a bit of work … while you were on the streets. Would you be willing to try to make that up with some extra work if we let you start your courses for the next semester?"

Curtis sat up straight. "Yes, ma'am. I'm sure I could do that. I'd work really hard if I didn't have to repeat everything."

"That's what I thought," Ms. Washington said with a smile. "I think we can work something out."

"That would be … good," Curtis said cautiously. He didn't want to get his hopes up too much.

"We have to be careful not to overload Curtis," Hunter cautioned. "He has some public service obligations." Curtis made a face. "You know, at the vet clinic," Hunter reminded him.

"Yeah," Curtis said dejectedly.

"Do you think you can handle all of this?" Ms. Washington asked gently.

"I think so. I think Dr. Raph would let me do some homework when I'm not cleaning up or looking after the animals," Curtis said hopefully. He thought Dr. Raph seemed like a nice guy. Curtis hoped that what he had just said might be the truth.

"I think Dr. Raph might be willing to allow that … if you are conscientious when you're actually working," Hunter suggested.

"I would be, Mr. Hunter, I really would."

"I'm sure you will. I'll talk to Raph about this and let you know what he says, Ms. Washington. Raph might even be able to help you with math and science. He's a smart guy."

"That sounds like a good plan, Mr. Hunter."

Hunter laughed. "I can't break Curtis from calling me that. My name is actually Mr. Montgomery, Hunter Montgomery, but I prefer Hunter. I should have introduced myself."

Ms. Washington smiled. Curtis really liked her smile. "I should have made sure we knew each other's names," Ms. Washington apologized. "I just kind of jumped right in."

"I think we got a lot accomplished," Hunter replied.

"I have a tentative timetable for Curtis. Some classes are full, but I think these will meet all his requirements based on what he took last term." She handed Hunter and Curtis each a piece of paper.

Curtis looked over the courses. He wasn't repeating anything. Since he'd had math last term it wasn't on his timetable this semester. He'd have to make it up though or he'd be repeating it. There were a couple of science courses, an English and an art.

"I'm not very good at art," Curtis said with a frown. "Can't I take some computer stuff?"

"They're all full," Ms. Washington said. "Maybe next year."

Curtis sighed. "Okay."

"I know some people who may be able to help you in the art department," Hunter said casually.

"You do?" Curtis asked.

"Yep, and they'll enjoy doing it."

"Okay," Curtis said again. Everyone seemed to be trying to help him. Maybe things were actually going to work out.

"So," Ms. Washington said, "how be you come with me and I'll take you to science class."

"Okay," Curtis replied. He hadn't really thought they'd let him start today.

"No point in wasting another day," Mr. Carlson stated as Ms. Washington led Curtis to the door.

"I'll be here after school. Have a great day," Hunter informed them before they left the room.

"He seems like a good boy," Mr. Carlson said.

"He is, and it's through no fault of his own that he got into trouble. Anything you and his teachers can do to help him will be greatly appreciated."

"Of course," Mr. Carlson said standing and shaking Hunter's hand before ushering him out of the office.